Gold Cup 2011: U.S. seeks payback against Panama in semi-finals

Evan Habeeb-US PRESSWIREClint Dempsey and the United States will look to avenge an earlier loss to Panama so they can advance to the Gold Cup finals.

HOUSTON — The United States and Mexico are both one victory away from another showdown on the pitch.

Before the Americans can think about that, though, they have to atone for one of their most shocking losses in recent years.

The U.S. faces Panama and Mexico plays Honduras in the Gold Cup semifinals in Houston tonight. The winners will play in Saturday’s championship game at the Rose Bowl.

The U.S. has won its last two games in shutouts after the stunning 2-1 loss to Panama less than two weeks ago. The Americans had never lost to Panama or dropped a match in group play in the Gold Cup, a biennial tournament started in 1991.

The Panamanians jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first half on June 11 and held on as the Americans controlled possession and finished with an 8-5 advantage in shots.

Midfielder Clint Dempsey says the Americans weren’t shaken by the loss — and that Panama didn’t expose any major weaknesses in his team.

“I don’t really think we necessarily played that badly the whole game,” Dempsey said. “We just started slow. As the game went on, we could’ve easily equalized the game, but we weren’t able to finish a few of our chances.”

The Americans wrapped up group play with a 1-0 victory over Guadeloupe, then advanced to the semifinals after a 2-0 victory over Jamaica.

“As the tournament has gone on, we’ve gained in confidence and gained in form,” Dempsey said. “We’re peaking at the right time. I think we’re catching form at the right time.”

Mexico, meanwhile, has been dominant from the start, despite a depleted roster.

Five players — goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, defenders Francisco Rodriguez and Edgar Duenas, and midfielders Christian Bermudez and Antonio Naelson — were suspended before the tournament for positive tests for clenbuterol.

CONCACAF on Sunday allowed Mexico to replace the suspended players for the rest of the tournament, and defenders Paul Aguilar, Hiram Mier and Hector Reynoso, goalkeeper Luis Michel and midfielder Marco Fabian were added to the roster.

Aguilar, Mier and Reynoso practiced with the team yesterday, while Michel and Fabian would only be called to play in case of an emergency.